Am 18 weeks pregnant. my doctor told me to findout my tsh level.what is its importance during pregnancy? what means the abnornal levels?

TSH: Your doctor is checking your thyroid function as the thyroid is critical in maintaining good health and protecting your pregnancy. If your thyroid is low functioning then you doctor will probably place you on oral thyroid to supplement your own thyroid hormone. Most used thyroid substance is synthroid (thyroxine) (levothyroxin).

Thyroid in pregnancy: Tsh is the hormone that regulates the thyroid gland's function. This is a very important aspect of maternal metabolism during pregnancy and can affect the fetal thyroid function. An unregulated maternal thyroid gland can predispose to preterm birth, poor fetal growth, preeclampsia, gestation diabetes mellitus, malpresentation, polyhydramnios and cesarean section. Seek mfm care if results abnormal.